West Branch, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Branch, Iowa
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Downtown West Branch
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| Motto(s):
A Heritage for Success
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Location of West Branch, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Counties | Cedar, Johnson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.57 sq mi (6.66 km2) |
| • Land | 2.57 sq mi (6.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 719 ft (219 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,509 |
| • Density | 975.88/sq mi (376.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52358
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-83595 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0462807 |
West Branch is a friendly city in Iowa, USA. It's located in both Cedar and Johnson counties. In 2020, about 2,509 people called West Branch home. This city is super special because it's the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, the only American president ever born in Iowa!
The part of West Branch in Johnson County is also considered part of the larger Iowa City area.
Contents
Discovering West Branch's Past
West Branch was officially planned out in 1869 by a person named Joseph Steer. It became an official city in 1875.
The first people to settle here were mostly Quakers from Ohio. The city got its name from their meeting place, which was called the West Branch Quakers. It was also named for its location on the west branch of the Wapsinonoc Creek. Many of the old buildings on Main Street are part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District, which means they are important historical places.
West Branch and the Underground Railroad
Before the American Civil War, West Branch was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. A famous person who fought against slavery, John Brown, even stayed near West Branch in 1856. He stayed at a farm and at an inn called Traveler's Rest. In 2008, scientists found signs of unmarked graves in a nearby cemetery. They were looking into a story about 17 escaped slaves who sadly died before they could reach Canada.
West Branch grew much faster after the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway built train tracks through the city.
The Legacy of Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover, who later became the 31st President of the United States, was born in West Branch in 1874. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum was opened here in 1962. President Hoover and his good friend, President Harry Truman, were both there for the opening.
The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site was created in 1965. This special site includes the Library-Museum, the small cottage where Hoover was born, and the graves of President Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover. It's a place where you can learn a lot about his life!
West Branch's Location
West Branch covers an area of about 2.57 square miles (6.66 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
The city is located about 10 miles (16 km) east of Iowa City. It's also about 40 miles (64 km) west of Davenport.
People of West Branch
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 501 | — |
| 1890 | 474 | −5.4% |
| 1900 | 647 | +36.5% |
| 1910 | 643 | −0.6% |
| 1920 | 688 | +7.0% |
| 1930 | 652 | −5.2% |
| 1940 | 719 | +10.3% |
| 1950 | 769 | +7.0% |
| 1960 | 1,053 | +36.9% |
| 1970 | 1,322 | +25.5% |
| 1980 | 1,867 | +41.2% |
| 1990 | 1,908 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 2,188 | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 2,322 | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 2,509 | +8.1% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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What the 2020 Census Shows
In 2020, there were 2,509 people living in West Branch. There were 1,034 households, which are groups of people living together in one home.
Most of the people living in West Branch were White (91.2%). A small number were Black or African American (0.6%), Native American (0.1%), or Asian (0.5%). About 5.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in West Branch was 41.0 years old. About 25.5% of the residents were under 20 years old.
West Branch's Economy
West Branch is part of the "Main Street Iowa" program. This program helps downtown areas grow their businesses by taking care of their historic buildings. West Branch joined this program in 2006.
Local Businesses and Industry
The city has an industrial park where several important companies are located. One big company is Procter & Gamble, which has a large distribution center here. This center is huge, covering 550,000 square feet (about 51,000 square meters)!
Other companies in the industrial park include Plastic Products, Wausau, Acciona Windpower North America, and Tidewater Direct. In 2007, Acciona Energía opened a factory in West Branch. This factory builds parts for wind turbines, which are used to create clean energy. It was the first factory of its kind in North America!
News in West Branch
The local newspaper, West Branch Times, has been printed continuously since 1875. That's a long time!
Fun Things to See and Do
Museums and History
West Branch is home to the Herbert Hoover National Historical Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. These places are managed by the National Park Service and the National Archives and Records Administration. The library also keeps important papers from famous authors like Rose Wilder Lane and her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder, who wrote the "Little House on the Prairie" books.
Important Landmarks
The Gruwell and Crew General Store is a very old building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's a special part of the city's history.
Butch Pedersen Field, also known as "the Little Rose Bowl," is the football field for West Branch High School. It was built in a unique way, dug into a sloped field, which creates natural seating for fans on three sides.
Education in West Branch
The West Branch Community School District runs the public schools in the city. About 800 students attend three schools: Hoover Elementary, West Branch Middle School, and West Branch High School.
There's also a Quaker boarding school called Scattergood Friends School located just east of the city.
Getting Around West Branch
Interstate 80, a major highway, passes right through West Branch. This makes it easy to travel to and from the city.
Famous People from West Branch
West Branch has been home to several notable people:
- Marv Cook – A professional football player.
- Mildred Adams Fenton – A scientist who studied ancient life, called a paleontologist.
- Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) – The 31st President of the United States.
- Dave Rummells – A professional PGA Tour golfer.
- Harry Duncan and Allan Kornblum – Famous printers and publishers who created books in West Branch.
See also
In Spanish: West Branch (Iowa) para niños
